Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris has successfully secured Castle Point’s inclusion into Essex County Council’s trial of LED street lights across Essex.

Streetlights across the county are switched off between midnight and 5am daily, except in busy areas, as a cost-saving measure.

The trial, which is due to begin later this year, will see the installation of LED streetlights that will be kept on throughout the night.

Rebecca secured Castle Point’s inclusion into the pilot at a meeting with Essex County Council Leader Cllr David Finch and the Essex County Council cabinet member responsible for Highways, Cllr Rodney Bass at a meeting in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

Previously the trial was only scheduled to include areas in Colchester, Maldon, Burnham, Saffron Walden, Dunmow and Stansted Mountfitchet.

Rebecca said:

“The part night lighting scheme is an issue that many people in our Borough care about. We are a sub-urban area with very busy roads and that needs to be taken into account.

“I want to thank Cllr Finch and Cllr Bass for listening to my case and for agreeing to include us. We don’t know yet how many streets will be included in the scheme and I still fully support efforts of residents and our council in keeping all the lights on, but this is definitely progress in the right direction.”

Cllr Bass said:

"Rebecca has put forward a very strong case and I can confirm Castle Point will now be part of the LED trial.

"We will look at ways to maximise the effect so the trial can integrate LED technology closely into our broader street lighting needs”.

Castle Point Borough Council Leader Colin Riley said:

“I am delighted that Rodney has listened to both Rebecca and my council on this and we will go forward from here”.

Sarah Raven,  local campaigner and member of the ‘Save Our Street Lights – Castle Point’ facebook group said:

“It’s a good start and its encouraging for the campaign to know things can be changed. Of course the campaign will be keep on pushing with Rebecca and Castle Point Borough Council to get all of our lights back on, but it’s definitely an encouraging improvement on the current situation moving forward. Well done to Rebecca and as always we want to thank her for her continued support on a matter that means so much to us all”.

Cllr Ray Howard, Essex County Councillor for Canvey Island West Ward said:

“I voted against part night lighting because of the weight of resident’s objections from Canvey, Harlow and Basildon and I am very pleased that Rebecca has managed to secure Castle Point’s inclusion in the new LED trial scheme”.